LATE TATYASAHEB NOOLKAR -- A GREAT AND BLESSED SAI-DEVOTEE

[Guest guest]

Death

Although Talyasahcb's condition was gelling worse clay by day, his family

members were hoping that with Baba's grace he will recover from it Babasaheb

Sahasrabuddhe used to sleep next to him for any service required. One night

about 2 Taiyasaheb started calling his servant. Bubasaheb immediately woke

up and asked him what he wanted. Tatyosoheb replied, "Nilkanthrao! What

should I tell you! I want to pass urine and how can I ask you to bring the

urine-pot for me!" On that Babasaheb said, "Now give up this craxincss of

yours! What is the sense in observing etiquettes between close friends!" So

saying Babasaheb placed the urine-pot under Tatyasaheb's body and when urine

was passed, removed it and placed it aside.

With tears in his eyes, Tatyasaheb said, "Nilkanthrao! When you arrived at

Shirdi, did you or me ever imagined that you will have to serve me in such a

manner! On your arrival Sai Baba repeatedly for three days-, ordered you to

slay back and serve me, does it not mean that Baba has brought a nursing

expert like you here especially for me! If you were not here, what would

have been the plight of myself and my family members here?"

 

Then at 3 a.m. Tatyasaheb wanted to discharge his bowels (evacuate faeces).

Babasaheb and Wamanrao both helped him and when it was over, the carbuncles

were dressed again. From that time Talyasahcb's weakness started increasing

and he kept on lying on the bed repeating Sai-nama continuously. After

some-time he asked his younger son Vishwanath to be awakened.

He asked his both sons to sing Bhajans (Hymns). Everybody knew that end was

approaching. The sons with 'chiplics' (pair of small chips of wood used for

clapping by devotees) in hands, started singing Bhajans loudly. Some of the

devotees around also got up and joined. The Bhajan continued for about one

and half hours. Taiyasaheb was listening quietly but he seemed to be very

tircd. Wamanrao, the doctor son, checked the pulse. It was very slow and

forgiving some stimulant injection, Wamanrao looked for hypodermic

(introduced beneath the skin) syringe, but it was found to be broken. Hence

he became helpless. Bhajan was going on. At about 5 O'clock Tatyasaheb, by

raising his hand, signalled to stop the Bhajan and said something in a low

voice. On going nearer the sons heard him asking them to sing the famous

Bhajan, meaning "O Lord! Wait and stand before my eyes and I see you new."

The sons sang the Bhajan and that time Tatyasaheb seemed to be in a very

happy stale, as if his mind was merged with that of Lord Himself. Then

Thatyasaheh asked his sons to stop singing and bin sell remained quiet in

his bed. Tatyasaheb's wife, brother-in-law, Kakasahcb Dixit and quite a few

other persons were present.

 

Meantime, Talyasaheb's younger son Vish-wanath went running to Radhakrishna

Aai and brought Baba's Pada-tirtha and Udi. Wh.cn Udi was applied lo

Talyasaheb's forehead, he opened his eyes clearly and looked around. Really

at that time the depth, brightness and probing nature of his-glance was

worth observing. When the Pada-tirtha was given in a spoon, Tatyasaheb

opened his mouth. The Pada-tirth was poured three limes and as soon as thc

third pouring was over Tatyasaheb breathed his last. Just a few minutes

before this, Sai Baba in the Masjid said, "Behind our Masjid a big star has

collapsed" and stepping out in the open, he shouted loudly, beating the

mouth with hands. Whenever a dear devotee passed away, Baba sometimes

behaved thus.

 

to be contd...

 

by Late Lt.Col Nimbalkar

Pune

(Source Shri Sai Leela May June 1991)